Art of animation



May 21, 19%. w. E. DISNEY I ART OF ANIMATION Filed Sept. 1, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

21, 1940- W. E. DISNEY ART OF ANIMATION Filed Sept. 1, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS May 21 WQQD w. E. DISNEY y fi ART OF ANIMATION Filed Sept. 1, l956 4i ,shsecs sheet 5 1 m INVENTOR.

BY I

ATTORNEYS w. E. DESNEY ART OF ANIMATION Filed Sept. 1, 1936 4 Shets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS I latented 2i, 1940 "PATENT OFFICE 2,201,689 ART ()I ANIMATION Walter E. Disney, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Walt Bisney Productions, Los Angeles. CaliL, a corporation of California;

Application September I, 1936, Serial No. 98,896

8 Claims.

This invention is particularlv directed to improvements in the" art of producing .what are generally known as animated cartoons; this term being applicableto all instances in which drawn or painted representations of objects,

characters, scenes and the like are recorded upon continuous mm so that projection thereof creates the appearance of animation or movement in such drawn or painted characters and scenes.

16 In the preparation of such animated cartoons a considerable:v amount of action by a desired character, such as, for example, Mickey Mouse,

may take place in front of a relatively stationary,

' unchang g background. Under such conditions,

the series of events taking place before such background is termed a scene of the entire play or story. Since such scene, when projected upon a screen, consists of a large number of photographic images of drawings. or paintings, 2 thousands of such drawings or paintings must be made. Ordinarily, the background of a given 'scene maybe drawn or painted upon an opaque or transparent medium and a number of drawings of the character, actor or foreground figures are then made on separate transparencies. The

foreground or character transparency is then placed over the background drawing and the two are photographed simultaneously.

' In order to properly position the character with respect to the background appearing in the drawing, it is necessary in most instances to show the shadow of the character since the shadow assists greatly in creating the proper perspective and positioning of the character. Moreover, the

shadow of the character must be placed with due regard to the lighting effect which has been depicted in the background. when the background is complicated, angular, or contains a number of objects such as, "for example, a balustrade, it is 40 extremely difficult for the animator to properly create, by drawing, the shadow of the character upon these background objects.-

' The presentinvention is particularly directed toward methods whereby the foreground object.

orcharacter may be properly and. accurately placed and correlated-with respect to the background and accurate shadows rapidly producedsothat the'flnished drawing (or combination of drawings) which is photographed in the produce den of the finished projection film, correctly and accurately locates the character with. respect to the background and includes a virtually accurateshadow.

M location and correlation of characters in'giveu ver, the present invention 'permits the backgrounds in a very rapid manner so that accurate representations of shadows are obtained in a. very minor fraction of the time which an animator would require it he was required to reconstruct the shadow by mental and manual 5 processes alone.

Generally stated, the method of this invention comprises iorming a three dimensional model of the desired background, projecting the image of the foreground character upon such three dimen- I0 sional background, and utilizing the position of the character and its shadow with respect to the three dimensional background in locating and representing the'shadow of such character in its correct relationship with said background upon 'the final drawing or photographic record.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to disclose and provide a method of procedure whereby the production of animated cartoons is expedited.

A further object of the invention is to disclose 20 I and provide a method of enhancing the dramatic effect of animated cartoons. I

These and other objects, uses, advantages, adaptations and modifications oi the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art 25 from the following detailed description of the preferred mode of operation and illustrative forms of devices whereby the method of the invention maybe carried out.

. In thedr'awings:v

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of apparatus in'which the method of the invention may be carried out.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken through the} apparatm of Fig. 1. v i Fig. 3 is a photographic record of a background drawlng. I v

Fig. 4 represents a three dimensional relief model (in foreshortened perspective) made in accordance with the drawing shown in the photographic record of Fig. 3.

'Fig. 5 represents a drawing of a character to be used in an animated picture, said characterin Fig. 3. a

Fig. 6 is a perspective illustrating the casting of a shadow of the character shown in Fig. 5 upon the three dimensional background illustrated in 4; 1 Fig. 7 is a photographic record of the character. shadowand background on the finished film. 7 Fig.1 8 is a vertical seetion oi another form of device in which the method of this invention may be carriedout. i u

to be eventually placed in the background shown adjustably mounted in a transverse slot Hi.

comprise fixed pins capable of cooperating with carefully punched locating holes made ,in the Fig. 9 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the light source illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig, 11 is an enlarged view of the lamp-post shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

As stated hereinbefore, the present invention is particularly directed to methods and means whereby animated cartoons may be produced with greater fidelity and ease. One of the simplest forms of apparatus which may be used in carrying out the present invention is illustrated in Figs. land 2. As there shown, a table, generally indicated at I, is provided with an aperture 2 in which there may be mounted a transparent glass plate 3. Movably positioned beneath this table and visible through the aperture 2 is a stage, generally indicated by the numeral 4. The stage 4 may consist of two members 5 and 6 which are hinged together and which may be adjustably positioned with respect to one another by means of a quadrant 1 attached to the member 5 and adjustably attachable to the member 6. The entire stage may be supported by means of a ball and socket joint 8 carried by a guiding and supporting member 9 slidably and lock nut ll permits the stage to be adjustably positioned transversely of the table I.

A handle l2 may be attached to the member 5 of the stage and by means of such handle the entire stage may be tilted in any desired direction upon the ball and socket joint 8. Means are also carried by the table i for locating and registeringsuitable transparencies, such registering and locating means being indicated at l3, and may edges of transparencies or translucent sheets l4.

Adjustably positionable above the table is a camera l5. By the term "camera as used herein, reference will be made to any means capable of projecting a photographic transparency or the like, or a Bolopticon 'or other device capable oi projecting an image from an opaque backing such as, for example, a drawing made on substantially opaque paper. Furthermore, the term camera'. asused herein not only refers to a projecting means but also to a means capable of recording a photographic image of what is observed by such camera on the table and on the stage. The camera I5 is shown in Fig. 1 to be vertically adjustable, .being slidably and adjustably mounted upon a suitable support is. Movably carried by the table I is a light source, generally indicated at IT, said light source being preferably of such character as to direct a substantially parallel beam of light upon the stage through the aper-' ture 2.

The various elements described are then preferably employed in producing composite drawings of figures or characters and backgrounds. By the term "character, reference will be made herein to any drawing or representation of an animated, far: ciful or realistic character. It is to be understood that such characters may be either in the immediate foreground, in the middle ground, or may even be caused to move into and beyond the so-called background.

In the preparation of animated cartoons, it is customary to make a background drawing for a white or black and gray paints or inks, or such drawings may be executed in colored paints so that during subsequent step-by-step photography of background drawings and character drawings in correctly superimposed relation, the frames of the film depict the background and the character in their correct relationship and in the desired sequence.

In accordance with this invention, drawings of the desired background are made and in most cases a photographic record, generally on motion picture film, is made of such background. Fig. 3 represents a background drawing 23 photographed upon a strip of film. Separate drawings are made of the character (or characters) which it is desired to place in such background. Fig. 5, for example, illustrates a sheet of substantially transparent material 20 bearing a drawing 2| of a character. It is to be remembered that the drawing 20 is but one of a large number showing the character in various positions which it as sumes during the scene. Attention is called to the fact that theedges of this transparency 20 are provided with registered holes 22 adapted to cooperate with the registration pins I3 referred to hereinabove.

The background 23 depicts the interior of a log cabin and it may be assumed that the scenario calls for light, emitted by the lantern carried by the character, to cast ashadow upon the rough wall of the cabin. It would be extremely difllcult to correctly create, by drawing, the shadow of this character upon the trunk and walls of the cabin. The solution of this problem is one of the objects of this invention and is attained in the following manner:

After the background drawing has been photographed to produce a film such as is shown in Fig. 3, the photographic record is projected by the camera l5 upon the stage 4 which is adjusted by means of the elements shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The walls, trunk and portions of the ceiling are then molded, fitted, or otherwise arranged upon the stage 4 so as to fit the projectedimage of the background. By using the projected image, the molding of the three dimensional background on the stage is greatly facilitated. In Fig. 4 the relationship between the projected image and the stage is brought out diagrammatically.

After the background has been made in this manner upon the stage 4, projection is discontinued and the transparency 20 bearing the character 2|,is fitted upon the registration pins ii. The light source I! is then adjustably positioned on the left so as to create the effect of light from the lantern falling upon the stage and background. The character 2l is in the foreground and the light source I! will then throw a shadow of such character upon the stage 4. If the character 2| is simply outlined, such outline will be visible upon the stage 4. Insome instances it is desirable to have the character 2| not only outlined in opaque pigments but completely filled in with a translucent paint so that a relatively faint but distinct shadow of the entire character is visible on the stage. The relation between the transparency 20 and the stage 4, and the resultant shadow, are shown in Fig. 6.

After these arrangements have been made, the camera II is used in photographing the stage and shadow thrown thereon. As a matter of fact, the resulting photograph will depict the character 2|, the stage or background carried by the stage, and the shadow of the character with rela. tion to the objects in the background. A photogroove running along the edge of the table I. The

.graph thus takeri will now bear arecord. of the character 2|, the background and a shadow of this photograph is not used as a final photoplay illustrated in Figs. 8 to .11.

segments 33 slidably mounted in grooves formed around the feet of the character.

such top lighting is not maintained throughout print. It may be noted that during the taking of this photograph the only source of light is that supplied by the lamp II. Itis to be noted that the lamp I1 is angularly displaced with respect to the point of view of the camera l5 so that the perspective observed by and photographed by' the camera l,5 differs from the perspective of the image or shadow projected upon the three dimensional background or stage by the light 51-.

The photograph showing the character, its shadow and the background is then separately projected onto a suitable transparency and the animator draws the background and character as well as the shadow in accordance with the indications on the photograph. These finished composite drawings are suitably filled in with wash colors .or pigments and are then photographed in correctnsequence in the usual manner, thereby producing a finishedcartoon photoplay. A detailed description 'of such operations need not be given here since -such operations are well-known in the art. A single complete photograph, suitable for projection use, is shown in Fig. '7.

' The dramatic effect obtained by correctly representing the shadows of characters with respect to their backgrounds quite remarkable and produces a most realistic effect. In some animated cartoons now being produced, top lighting of the character is resorted to, an attempt being made by mental processes of the animator alone to make a smaller blot or shadow immediately Very often a photoplay or scene and as a result an unnatural effect .or impression is conveyed to the observer. Many scenes, of course, necessitate an- V gular lighting and it is practically impossible to reproduce by a mental process a true and correct representation of ,the shadow on an irregular or broken background. The method 'of this invention' produces realistic efiects quickly and accurately. I

Another form of device which may be used is The table i is pro-' vided with 'a longitudinally movable portion 30, such portion containing a glasseclin aperture. Thestage, generallyindicated at 4, is movable transversely of the table I, each of the segments 32 being provided with a tongue slidably fitting into a transverse groove in each end of the table l Member 3| of the stage ispivotally connected to the segments .32.

Locking or adjusting pins are carried bythe edges of the member 31, such looking or adjusting means cooperating with the segments 32 so as to adjustably position the member 3|. The member 3! in turn carries movablyadjiistable near the;edges of the member 3|. The board a is pivotally attached to the segments a and is also provided with means whereby the angular position of the, board 34 with respect tothe memj ber 3| may be adjustably fixed. Along one edge of the table I is a movable and adjustable light source Such light source may be mounted upon a post I providedwith a'bottom flange 3G. -This' post rests upon a' plate '31 slidably mounted in a for future reference.

plate 31 is firmly connected to an end portion 38 through which an externally threaded rotatable shaft 39 extends. The plate 31 is provided I with an upstanding stud 40 journaled within the post 35,. thereby permitting the entire post Ii to be rotated about said stud. Rotation of the threaded shaft 39 will cause the entire platev 31 and post 35 carried thereby to be moved to 'a i desired position longitudinally of the table.

The flange, may be provided with a plurality of perforations which may be consecutively numbered whereas the plate 31 has but a single aperture thereinv so that when an aperture in the I1 is supported by a bracket 42 which is adjuste ably positionable up or down the post 35. Such vertical adjustment of the lamp I! may be accomplished by means of a plurality of spaced. apertures 33 carried by the post 35, a locking pin' 44 carried by the bracket 42 being selectively positionable in the desired aperture for holding the lamp at the required height. Preferably the apertures 43 are serially numbered so that again the position of the lamp vertically may be noted The bracket 42, moreover, is provided with a lamp holder 45 which is adjustably positionable. about a horizontal pivo pin 46.

By the provision of means of the character stated, the position of the light source may be noted with great completeness and the light source moved to a position identical to that assumed in taking aprevious scene by simply refero ring to the record of longitudinal adjustment,

vertical adjustment and angular adjustment previously made? Thecamera is positioned above the table l I of the device shown in Figs. 8 and 9 but is not shown in the drawings. As stated previously, the

camera is preferably vertically adjustable and if desired means may be provided for adjustably positioning the camera vertically and also in a horizontal plane. Such adjustments are of .value whenever the stage depicts a fairly long back-' ground or a large background since then the camera may be either focused upon a desired portion of the stage and then moved to different positions to take in other portions of the stage,

' or may be vertically moved so as to depict a long shot of the stage and background carried thereby and then gradually moved downwardly toward the stage, thereby duplicating what is referred to in actual motion picture practice as a perambulator shot, terminating in a close-up of just a portion of the background. V It is to be remembered that the background which is formed on the stage 4 from drawings previously made may be in has relief or other 1 dimensional formJ In rare instances the background may be plane. I I p Although in the procedure described hereinabove .the three dimensional background was created or molded onthe stage from a drawing a and such model or stage background ;'was built by the aid of projected images of the background,

this particular sequence of steps need not be used. In many instances it may be more con-- .venient to first model the entire background upon, the stage and then photograph the modeled, 7 7.

lit)

background, utilizing the photographs thereof in producing the drawings.

When it is desired that the entire area of the character cast a shadow (instead of simply the outline thereof), then in that event a finely divided dilute suspension of a pigment in a suitable vehicle should be employed. The use of wetting agents such as cetyl alcohol, Tergitol, Alphasol,

etc., stabilizes the suspension or dispersion and faparticular reference has been had to the formation of shadows, the method may also be used in obtaining reflections. In many instances the final projection print needs show a distorted refiection of a character as, for example, in a curved reflecting surface as a bottle, dish, cup or the like. Such distorted images may be obtained in substantially the same manner as that describedhereinabove, a suitably curved reflecting surface being substituted for the solid, substantially nonreflective materials normally employed in forming the three dimensional backgrounds. By the term image as modified by the shaped background used in the claims herein, reference is made to shadows and/or reflections of the.character since in both instances the images are modified, altered, distorted, or otherwise transformed by the background either as a projected shadow image or as a projected detailed image.

Although rather specific forms of devices have been described and the preferred method has been disclosed in detailpit will be evident to those skilled in the art that the methods of this invention may be modified considerably without departing from the teachings of this invention. All changes, modifications, adaptations and uses coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

1. In the production of animated cartoons, the steps of: forming a linearrepresentation of a cartoon character on a transparency, forming a three dimensional background capable of distorting an image projected thereon, projecting the cartoon character from said transparency onto said three dimensional background whereby the projected image of the character is modified and distorted by the background, and then photographing the position of the projected and distorted image from a point of view removed sufllciently from the point of projection to produce a photographic record showing the distorted.

image and background in a different perspective.

2. In the production of animated cartoons, the steps of :,forming a linear representation of a cartoon character on a transparency, forming a shaped three dimensional background, positioning said transparency between said background and a camera, passing light through said transparency to project an image of said characteronto said shaped three dimensional background, whereby said image is modified by said background, and then photographing said transparency and the projected image as modified by said shaped background on the same film in said camera.

3. In the production of animated cartoons, the steps of forming a linear representation of. a cartoon character on a transparency, forming a shaped three dimensional background, positioning said transparency between said background a d a camera, passing light through said transpa ency to project an image of said character onto the shaped three dimensional background whereby said image is modified by said background, then photographing said transparency and the projected image as modified by said background upon a single film in said camera,.

and then preparing a drawing of the background, character-and character image as modified by the background, andv locating the relative positions of the background, character and character image in accordance with said photograph.

4. In the production of animated cartoons, the steps of: forming a drawing of a cartoon character, making a separate drawing of a desired background for the said character, forming a shaped three dimensionl background in accordance with said background drawing, said shaped background being capable of distorting an image projected thereon, projecting an image of the cartoon character from said drawing onto said three dimensional background from a point of projection to form a projected image of said character distorted by said backgroun and then photographing the distorted projec ed image from a point of view angularly displaced from the point of projection sufiiciently to produce a photographic record showing the distorted image in the background upon a film from a point of view removed sufiiciently from the point of projection to produce a photographic record showing the distorted shadow in a difierent perspective than that visible from the point of projection.

6. In the productionof animated cartoons, the steps of forming a shaped three dimensional background capable of distorting an image pro- 'jected thereon, placing a representation of a foreground object in desired position in front of the shaped background, projecting an image of said foreground object upon the shaped background from a desired point of projection, and making a photographic record of the projected image of the foreground object as distorted by the background, of said foreground object and of said background, upon a single film from a point of view suflicientiy removed from the point of projection to produce a photographic record showing the distorted image and background in a different perspective than that visible from the point of projection.-

7 .,In the production of animated cartoons, the

toons, the steps of: projecting-an image of a character upon a three dimensional shaped background to form a projected image distorted by said background, photographing the projected image while it is upon said background from a point of view sui'iiciently removed from the point of projection to producea photographic record showing the distorted image and background in a diflerent perspective, and then correlating the character and its distorted shadow image from the photographic record in making an animated cartoon.

WALTER E. DISNEY. iii 

